Point-of-use (POU) water filters reduce or remove harmful pathogens from drinking water. These are typically installed at a single tap, such as an under-the-sink reverse osmosis system.
Water treatment systems are a necessary tool for households to ensure that their daily water is safe and healthy to drink. There are many different types of these devices, so it’s important to understand the difference between POE and POU systems.
Cost
If you’re looking for a solution to improve the quality of your drinking water, then consider installing a point-of-use (POU) water filter. These are a cost-effective option that is easy to maintain and can help you avoid harmful contaminants found in your tap water. They can also save you money on bottled water.
A POU water filtration system uses advanced multi-stage filtration processes to remove a range of contaminants including lead, volatile organic compounds, PFAS, arsenic, and bacteria. They’re durable, easy to maintain, and take up little space under the sink. They can be installed by the homeowner or a plumbing professional. However, they require regular maintenance and the replacement of filters.
Point-of-use water filters aren’t as expensive as whole house filtration systems and offer better tasting water at an affordable price. However, they don’t treat your home’s pipes or appliances, and they don’t address many common contaminants that can clog or damage appliances and fixtures.
A POU water filtration system can be an excellent solution for your kitchen, but it’s not the best choice if you want to protect your pipes and appliances. A whole house water filtration system can address all of your water-using appliances, and is worth the investment. If you’re interested in improving the quality of your home’s water, contact Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric to schedule an appointment for a consultation and installation.
Purity
Unlike whole house water filters, POU systems only filter the water in your home at specific points. This means they don’t address the contaminants that can clog your pipes and damage your appliances. POU water filters also don’t treat shower water, so they can’t remove contaminants that are ingested through your skin and lungs as you bathe.
Typical point-of-use drinking water purification systems use multiple technologies, such as carbon filtration, redox media, RO membranes, UV disinfection and CDI. These processes reduce the levels of toxic contaminants that exceed regulations while retaining those that are essential for health.
A typical system starts by removing large particles and rust through string-wound sediment filters. They may also employ redox or ion exchange technology to remove harmful chemicals and minerals. The membrane technology in a POE system is often reverse osmosis (RO), which can remove up to 99% of all waterborne pathogens and most dissolved organic chemicals. Some POU systems will include a post-RO remineralization process to add back the healthy, beneficial minerals lost in previous filtration stages.
Other POU technology includes hollow fiber and adsorption-based systems. Basically, these are long, thin tubes that trap water particles in their walls, like a straw. The filtered water is then collected in a reservoir. Silver Ion Activated Carbon, or SIAC, is one such technology that uses silver to kill bacteria and viruses in the water.
Installation
Many families looking to improve their water quality choose to install point-of-use (PoU) water filtration systems. They are easy to use and take up little space. They can be used as an alternative to refrigerator or water pitcher filters and offer advanced filtration methods like carbon filtration, reverse osmosis (RO) water filtration, and sediment filters. These filtration solutions are perfect for people who live in areas where tap water is safe to drink, but still want to enjoy the crisp taste of filtered drinking water.
POU water filtration systems are installed at a single water connection, usually under the kitchen sink. They are more cost-efficient than whole-house water filter systems and can be used to provide filtered water for drinking, cooking, or other household uses. These systems usually have smaller capacities than whole-house systems and are best suited for light use applications.
Most POU systems combine multiple water treatment technologies to produce high-quality drinking water. They often include string-wound sediment and granular carbon filters to remove large particles and odors, followed by some form of selective separation, such as redox media or ion exchange, and RO membranes for the removal of organic chemicals and dissolved metals. They may also include UV disinfection and remineralization to add back the minerals removed in earlier steps. These processes are designed to reduce hazardous contaminants above regulatory limits and leave behind beneficial nutrients.